Monday Blurbs - Rajon Rondo Has a Torn ACL

Friday night, the Boston Celtics squandered a 27-point lead to the Atlanta Hawks in a hard to swallow loss. During the game, their PG Rajon Rondo injured his knee in what the team called a hyperextension. Rondo was listed as day-to-day following the game and many believed he would have a chance to suit up Sunday afternoon for Boston’s game against the rival Miami Heat. The starting point guard for the Eastern Conference All-Star team ended up being a late-scratch and rumors of how serious his injury really was began swirling. Unfortunately for the Celtics, their floor general will miss the rest of the season (including playoffs should Boston qualify) with a torn ACL. The devastating news came as a shock to his teammates in Boston as fellow All-Star Kevin Garnett heralded the fallen star. “(Rondo is) becoming the heart and soul of this team. He's coming into his own. Had some bumps in the road, but we're just trying to be supportive for him” exclaimed KG. "It was a big blow to everybody in here, me included," Garnett went on to say "Man, that hurt. It's tough."

The Celtics took the floor against the defending NBA Champions without knowing the extent of Rondo’s injury. The epic battle lasted two overtimes as LeBron James hit a game-tying three-point shot just before the end of regulation. Paul Pierce messed around and got himself a triple-double with 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists – the two most important points coming in the second overtime with a go-ahead jumper with 31 seconds left putting Boston up by one. With the score 100-98, Miami had a final chance to either send the game into a third overtime or win it. LeBron James and his 34 points with a clutch shot already under his belt in the game stood and watched as Shane Battier jacked up a brick several feet behind the three-point line as Boston celebrated their hard-fought victory. A victory that soon became bittersweet as the news of Rondo was given to them. During a postgame interview, Pierce was told Rondo had a torn ACL and was visibly surprised and upset by the news. Boston is under .500 as it stands and the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They have an uphill battle ahead of them as they try to move forward without the heart and soul of the team.

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• The NFL Pro Bowl was held yesterday as the Nation collectively shrugged their shoulders. The All-Star game for the NFL has become much maligned over the past several years as the players continued to show how little they care for the game itself. It’s a very difficult situation considering how tough and grueling a game football is. It cannot be easy to replicate one as a simple exhibition game for fun and honor. The NFC embarrassed the AFC en route to a dominating 62-35 victory. The Vikings’ TE Kyle Rudolph was named the game’s MVP as he caught five passes for 122 yards and a TD. Rookie QB Russell Wilson tossed three TD passes in his Pro Bowl debut in what could have been the final Pro Bowl game. The league is reportedly considering discontinuing the game, we'll have to see what they decide.

• Don’t look now, but the Los Angeles Lakers have won two games in a row. Baby steps, people. The biggest reason for the winning streak is due in large part to Kobe Bryant. Not for his scoring, but rather, his surprisingly impressive display of passing and playmaking abilities over the past two victories. After beating the Utah Jazz on Friday with 14 assists, Kobe led the Lakers to yet another impressive victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kobe matched his performance on Friday with another 14 dimes as Metta World Peace, Steve Nash, PauGasol and Antawn Jamison flourished in the win. The Thunder struggled to score points down the stretch as PG Russell Westbrook attempted to take over but failed miserably. Several possessions in the final minutes for the Thunder became stagnate and one-sided as teammates watched Westbrook try to do everything. Kevin Durant and his 35 points watched as Westbrook shot 6-22 from the field as the Lakers beat the Thunder 105-96 in Los Angeles.

• We have two undefeated teams left in the NHL and they’re both at the top of the Western Conference. The Chicago Blackhawks continued their impressive early start to the season last night as they defeated divisional rival Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in overtime thanks to a Nick Leddy wrist-shot that went flying past Jimmy Howard. The Blackhawks have now set a new franchise record for consecutive games won to start a season with the 6-0-0 record. The San Jose Sharks – looking to keep up with the red-hot Blackhawks – managed to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 last night. The now 5-0-0 Sharks have given up the fewest goals in the West for an NHL best +15 differential. Patrick Marleau has dominated thus far with a league-leading nine goals and tied for the league-lead in points (13) with teammate Joe Thornton.

• New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman participated in an interview with ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "Michael Kay Show" and admitted that 3B Alex Rodriguez could miss the entire 2013 season. The 14x All-Star had hip surgery on January 16th and it was initially believed he would return around the All-Star break in the summer. The news has become a bit more pessimistic as the team prepares for the chance of not having the 3x MVP at all this upcoming season.

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